aefenglom | 001 💗 Voice to All

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001 💗 Voice to All

[The voice that echoes through the device is sweet and feminine. The topic of her call is the fresh start that has been forced onto her. It should be a good thing, she has a chance to live a new life here, but Justine still isn't sure how she feels about this world, the parliament or the Coven.]

Hello. I have met some of you but I know that there are many of you who I have yet to come across. My name is Justine. I am not a fighter, like most of the people brought here, but I hope to sell the skills I do have. I was a caretaker in my previous life. I can cook, clean and fix minor tears in fabric.

I can also crotchet and I'd be happy to take commissions to those who wish to get a head start on winter. [Ignore the fact that it's spring.]

If anyone is interested in my services, please contact me.

If money isn't an option, I would also be interesting in trading. I would like to learn to fight but if nothing else we can come to some sort of arrangement. I am a witch and once I perfect my potion making, I hope to sell those as well.

Thank you for your time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Connor decides not to mention Hank's habit of drinking heavily and playing Russian Roulette. The guy has a death wish, he's admitted as much.]

He didn't like me, no. Actually, he hated me, because of what I am. He had his reasons, I don't hold it against him, but he was very difficult to work with in the beginning.

[His smile turns a little bitter.]

He wasn't the only one, though. I wasn't taken very seriously at the police station. And not everyone had an excuse outside of just thinking that androids are inferior to them.

I can't imagine hating you but I can understand it. People are scared of things that they don't understand and I imagine that many people thought you'd be replacing them too.

[Her features were soft and understanding but sad. Connor doesn't deserve their hate simply for what he is.]

I'm glad that you two are on good terms now.

Unemployment is at an all-time high because of androids. There are many people on the streets. I do understand, but it doesn't make it any less unpleasant.

[He nods though, trying to keep things on the brighter side.]

He was my first friend. We've saved each other's lives on more than one occasion. I'm proud to call him my partner.

[Even if Hank thinks badly of himself, Connor thinks he's pretty great.]

He sounds like a truly admirable man.

[She pauses and takes a measured sip of her wine as her thoughts twist and turn down curious and inquisitive paths. Justine has never been strong but her wit and charm have seen her through most of life's trials.]

Someone must be making money off the construction of android's. It might be possible to rectify the unemployment situation if you follow it up towards the top and find a way to create jobs.

[This is coming from a woman who never finished high school.

The waiter appeared with Justine's soup but she asks a final question before she begins eating.] Can you describe your world to me? What it's like there?

Well, it's certainly more advanced in regards to technology than here. Cars are often autonomous, though not all of them, and people have smart phones that can do a variety of things. There are millions of androids in circulation, designed for all kinds of tasks. I was honestly surprised to come here and be one of the only androids here.

[He's since met another, though they're very different to each other.]

It sounds like my world is like yours but many ten or twenty years behind in technological advancements. [She smiles softly.] I had a smart phone but I didn't use it all that often. Mostly for pictures.

[She can't imagine a world with millions of androids.]

Um... Connor. I have a question. This might seem random but... you didn't send me flowers did you? They were delivered to my house a few days ago but they didn't have a card on them.

[She's trying to figure out where they were from and she knows that they aren't from her roommate.]

[Connor tilts his head.]

No, I didn't.

[It's unsurprising that Justine would have other admirers besides him, but he can't help a little pang of jealousy. He keeps it carefully concealed, but now he's wondering who it was, too.]

If we were home, I could have scanned the fingerprints on the card and told you who it was... but I haven't built up a database here, yet.

[Justine's lips press tightly together. She tries not to look disappointed or annoyed but she feels both sensations rising in her chest.

If someone is going to send her flowers she'd like to know who they're from. Connor had been her last guess since Paris would be too shy for such a gesture. She doesn't have too many close friends.

She smiles at Connor's offer and shakes her head.]

It's fine. You'll likely get who delivered them but that might not be the sender anyway. Do you have the finger prints of everyone from your world? [She pauses and then her grin becomes a little more devious.] Do you have mine?

I'd pick up the sender as well, if he'd touched it. It would at least narrow down the search. But yes, I have access to the Detroit Police database. I can scan faces and obtain names, dates of birth and criminal records. Unfortunately here there is no such database, and even if there was I'm not connected to it.

[He takes Justine's hand again though, and scans her fingers.]

...Now I do.

[She laughs, sounding absolutely delighted.]

Well, I don't have a criminal record. [Technically.] I don't use my last name anymore. [For reasons that he now understands. It's her fathers name and Justine refuses to wear it.] You can scan my face if you'd like and my birthday is September 17th.

[Justine takes another few bites of her soup, finishing it and setting it off to the side for the waitress to take.]

I've already scanned your face, but I'm glad I know your birthday now.

[It means he can do something nice for her when it comes around.]

I don't have a last name, either. I do have a model and serial number for identification purposes, though.

[Justine doesn't usually celebrate her birthday. She never has and she probably never will without outside interference.]

I prefer Connor. It's a nice name.

[Her entree arrives and she quickly digs in while asking him more questions.]

What happened before you arrived here?

Androids had just secured their freedom from the humans. We activated thousands of androids stored in the main CyberLife tower. Markus was giving a speech to them.

[He frowns slightly, remembering how Amanda had tried to take control over his body again to force him to shoot Markus.]

Detroit was being evacuated, but Hank waited for me. We went back to his home, and were pulled in here through his bathroom mirror. What about you?

[Justine begins to eat, taking small quick bites of her meal. It's delicious and she finds it easy to split her focus between eating and listening to Connor's story.]

It sounds as if things were turning out well. [It's surprising but maybe it's only surprising from Justine's point of view. She doesn't have a high opinion of most people.]

That's sweet of him to wait. For me- [She places her fork down and exhales softly.] It's sort of the second part of my story. I was in bed. I had been woken up in the middle of the night. I don't wear anything to sleep but I had slipped into a robe when I realized I had company. I was- I was going to leave the room. [Walking towards her own death.] But I saw the mirror and ended up here.

[Connor tilts his head slightly, nodding.]

It's the second part?

[Surely there's more to it than Justine walking to the door and not making it?]

Yes. My time with the Raith family and what they are exactly.

[Her lips curl inward before she takes a sip of her wine.] After dinner. I'm almost done. [It isn't really a conversation for a restaurant and Justine wants to request his secrecy on the matter first.]

For now, how about you tell me what you'd like to do. You said you worked with the police back in your world but if you could do anything else, would it be that or something else?

I think I'd like to do more police work. It's what I was built to do, it's where I'd excel.

[Though anything Connor puts his mind to, he can succeed at.]

And with Hank here, we could work together I'm sure. We'd make a great team.

[Again.]

Will you do that? While you're here?

[She continues to eat but soon enough she's finished and the plate is being taken away. Justine focuses on her drink, sipping at it while she listens to Connor's thoughts.

He's really an interesting man.]

Maybe. Or I could work with animals.

[He smiles slightly.]

I seem to do well with them, I've found. And I do like them. What do you think you'll do here?

I'm not sure. There isn't a lot that I can do. I might take up permanent work in a shop or maybe see if the Coven's library needs assistance. There isn't much that I know how to do.

[She places her glass down and then nods at beach beyond the window.]

Do you want to go for a walk now?

[She is nervous about telling him more but it's time and she doesn't want to avoid it forever.]

[Connor nods, getting up and going to pay for the dinner. Then he takes Justine's arm and leads her to the door and down to the beach.]

I hope you enjoyed your meal.

[She seemed to, at least.]

[She lightly places her palm on his arm and follows him down towards the beach. For the first few moments she's silent, her cheeks flushed from the wine and warmth of his company.]

It was wonderful. Thank you. I hope you weren't too bored watching me.

[When they reach the beach, Justine pauses to briefly take off her stockings and shoes, letting her bare feet sink into the shifting sand.] Connor. What I'd like to tell you next is a secret. I know it's silly given that this is another world but I'd like you to promise me that you won't tell anyone.

Do you think you could do that?

[She looks up at him, her dark eyes large with a mixture of worry and fear though what she's afraid of is unclear.]

Of course. I promise.

[He's not sure what she's afraid of yet, but he knows he wouldn't tell anyone if she really didn't want him to.]

[She gently squeezes his hand as if to comfort herself with the fact that he's still walking at her side.]

Okay. The family I worked for, the Raiths, are members of the White Court. Unlike vampires you might be familiar with, they feed off of lust and desire. I was in the care of Thomas, the only son of the White King. I was his companion and his food. [She looks out at the water as the ocean waves curl against the sand.] That's been my life for the last five years.

Before I arrived here, I was going to see him. He was hurt. So hurt that I wouldn't survive the feeding.

[Connor looks both confused and concerned, eyes flicking between Justine and the ocean.]

He was going to kill you.

[That's what she's saying, isn't it? He holds her hand tighter, to remind himself that she's still here now and that's what matters.]

Why would you let him do that?

mentions of suicidal ideation

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